Grandparents in Oldham are helping to break cycles of drug misuse in their families.
Now drug workers in the town want to hear from those grandparents and build on their experiences to help more even families.
Oldham Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), working with the Children's Fund, has launched a project that will see it consult grandparents who have been left to care for their grandchildren because their own children are affected by drug or alcohol misuse.
Project manager Mohammed Saghir said: "We recognise that often it is the grandparents who become the main carer for children who are affected by drugs or alcohol use of their parents. Not only are they coping with the substance misuse of their own son or daughter, but often, for long periods they are also caring for their grandchildren and are the main anchor holding the family together.
"This takes its toll emotionally, physically and financially.
"We also know that children affected by substance misuse are more vulnerable to drug use themselves, so these carers are really important in providing care and protective factors to reduce the risks of this cycle repeating itself."
The Drug and Alcohol Action Team - the body which commissions drug and alcohol services in Oldham - wants to consult with these unsung heroes to look at what needs to be done to improve their access to services, help relieve the pressure and improve the outlook for them and their families.
Mohammed Saghir has already consulted with a number of grandparents but the DAAT is keen to widen the net and needs to hear from grandparents or other family members and carers from all sections of the community.
Grandparents like Joan and Bob*, who helped to turn their grandson's life around, know how important such support could be.
For the last six years, 63-year-old Joan and her husband Bob have been coping with the worry of knowing that their daughter Sally had a serious heroin and alcohol problem.
They found it hard enough to deal with the guilt and trauma of their daughter's situation, but when they realised how it had affected the care of their young grandson it was almost too much to bear.
The couple had to step in and care full time for Jason - now 15 - otherwise he could have gone into care.
Jason was 10 when he moved in with his grandparents and had missed out on a lot of school and was quite difficult to deal with. He had been fending for himself and had also been caring for his mother. He constantly worried about her and was finding adjusting to being a child again very difficult.
His mother's drug and alcohol use descended into chaos and this had a dramatic impact on them all.
Joan in particular found it hard to cope emotionally and found the sudden lack of social life isolating. The cramped living conditions and the financial strain at times were overwhelming and Bob and Joan's relationship suffered.
Today, Jason has adjusted well, his mum is getting things together and the future is looking much more promising.
However, Joan and Bob feel there is a real need for support from people who understand the issues and have real-life experience.
DAAT Strategic Manager Kay French said: "Listening to the experiences of people like Bob and Joan, we are committed to exploring the needs of such families and working towards setting up appropriate support mechanisms. "We are also offering free accredited training to grandparents and carers who are looking after young people or have been through this experience and would like to help others.
" There are 15 places available for this training. From the group of 15, 7 volunteers will be offered further training that will enable them to set up a support group for grandparents/carers.
The DAAT is also aiming to set up a 24 hour help line for grandparents and carers who find themselves caring for children affected by substance misuse.
To take part in the consultation and help other families suffering the effects of substance misuse, contact the DAAT team on 0161 621 9101. The consultation is confidential and staff can talk to you on the phone or face to face.
